Our team in Edinburgh are “going gold” this September/October, in aid of the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG)!

The team will be kicking off their fundraising efforts with cake sales on the 4th and 18th October. If you are in college on those days, treat yourself to a yummy cake and help raise money for an excellent cause.

What’s more – the CAW Edinburgh team will be raising money for the charity by completing a 40 mile bike ride around Fife on the 21st October! 

To help the team raise money for this vital cause, you can donate directly to their fundraising page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/team-caw

Learning a new language takes time and commitment, but offers a rewarding set of advantages to your mental health. Studies show that bilingualism improves memory, organisational skills and performance in other academic areas. The process of learning a new language can also help you to understand your own native language in more depth. Why not take on the challenge? See our language learning tips below to get the best out of the experience of learning a language.

Make use of free language learning materials
You can find free resources on almost any subject you could ever want to learn about online. Prospective language learners should consider joining Duolingo – a gamified website that offers a variety of language courses free of charge. Open culture promotes free podcasts and videos, giving people the opportunity to choose from over 45 different languages.

Learn while you browse
Your browsing habits can be easily turned into a means to learn more vocabulary. Readlang is a free extension that translates words from your webpages, and then generates flashcards to help you remember them.

Learn through entertainment
Understanding language through popular culture can be a fun diversion from studying from a dictionary or book. You could watch a foreign movie or read a newspaper printed in your chosen language.

Connect with other people
Studying textbooks is a good way to build up a solid understanding of the structures behind different languages. However, if you’re unable to apply your newfound knowledge in real life, then your academic efforts have gone to waste. Broken conversations with native speakers might initially be tedious and awkward, but there’s only so far studying from a book can take you before it becomes crucial to learn by application.

To find out more about how you can promote language learning, you can visit the European Day of Languages website.

Being able to speak one language well can enhance your career prospects for life. If you’re looking to improve your understanding of English, our Functional Skills in English courses are open to anyone based in the UK. More information on how to apply can be found on our website.

This week is red squirrel awareness week!

This once common species has been on the decline, with numbers in the UK falling from approximately 3.5 million, to an estimated 120,000 (15,000 of which are thought to be in England).

Find out how you can help protect these wonderful redheads on the Wildlife Trust website.

Why not go on a Squirrel Safari and report your findings to The Wildlife Trust. Autumn is a great time to spot them as they forage for nuts to store for the winter!

Here are some facts about the nation’s favourite nutkin!

• Like us, squirrels can either be left or right handed
• They are strong swimmers
• A red squirrels tails is used for balance, communication, to slow them when jumping…. And as a snuggly blanket!
• Their ankles are double jointed to allow them to go down a tree headfirst.

Forgiveness

When somebody or something makes you unhappy, you have two choices. You can dwell on hurtful events and situations, or you can accept what has happened and focus on moving forward. It’s easy to hold onto resentment, but studies show that forgiveness can lead to a range of health benefits. These include healthier relationships, less anxiety and stress, greater psychological wellbeing, and higher self-esteem. By comparison, holding onto a grudge risks bringing anger and bitterness into your relationships with others. You risk becoming so wrapped up in negativity that you’re unable to see the bright side in anything.

Choosing to let go of resentment is not about forgetting that something painful has occurred, or about condoning bad behaviour. It is about taking responsibility over your feelings and putting yourself before those who have hurt you. Next time you’re feeling angry at someone or something, ask yourself whether it’s really worth sacrificing your health over. Instead: put it behind you and focus on your own happiness.

Eye health

Did you know the average blink lasts for about 1/10 of a second? Looking after our eyes is very important. One way to make sure your eyes are healthy is regular eye tests. The suggested time frame for our eyes to be tested is every two years; this can differ depending on age and eye conditions.

Some of the different health issues that can occur to the eye are eye disease, eye cancer, conjunctivitis and dry eye. If you think you have a health issue with your eyes seek information and help from your doctor.

If you think you may have a sight issue you can go to your local optician for an eye test which will determine what help you need e.g. Glasses.

For further information please visit the NHS website.

Reading

When was the last time you read a good book? If you’d rather be doing something else, you’re not alone. Many people struggle to find the time to read, or find more comfort in television and film; but if you’re part of the 36% of people in England that do not read for pleasure, you could be missing out on a wealth of mental health benefits.

According to a study from the University of Sussex, reading for just six minutes a day can be enough to reduce stress levels by up to 68%. Different from reading short news articles, or your social media messages – sitting down with a book involves long periods of focus and attention, keeping your mind stimulated and boosting concentration in everyday life.

Engaging with the experiences and feelings of others through reading is also associated with higher levels of empathy and improved relationships with others. If you’re looking to revitalise a love of reading, why not take a look at Amazon’s 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime?

Today is International Literacy Day! Roughly 12 percent of the world’s population is considered functionally illiterate, with only basic or below average literacy levels in their native languages. What’s more – 781 million people worldwide cannot read or write at all, including 126 million youth.*

Functional illiteracy is not just a problem limited to developing nations. In the UK, poor literacy skills are widespread. 16% of adults (around 5.8 million) people in England and Northern Ireland scoring at the lowest level of proficiency in literacy.*

This is where an English Functional Skills qualification comes in!

From better career prospects and increasing confidence, to further educational opportunities and greater independence; the power of literacy knows no bounds. Our English Functional Skills courses have no formal academic entry requirements, and are open to anyone based in the UK. Undertaking a formal qualification will help to you participate fully in society, transforming your life in more ways than one…

You will give yourself the freedom to live life in the way you choose!

Think about all the daily tasks which require basic literacy skills. Applying for jobs, doing the weekly shop, arranging appointments and travelling to name just a few. Improving your literacy will therefore help give you the freedom to take charge of tasks and situations you might have ordinarily relied upon others to handle. What’s more – with independence will come bucket loads of new found confidence and self-esteem that you can use to excel in your educational, work and personal life!

You will be well on the way to further learning!

Functional Skills form a vital part of all apprenticeship frameworks in England and can, in some cases, be used to progress onto higher level programmes of study.  See current apprenticeship vacancies at The College of Animal Welfare

You will increase your career prospects and pave the way to higher wages!

Learning to read, write and communicate effectively will be a solid asset in the jobs market, helping you stand out among stiff competition. This starts right from your CV. Something as small as a spelling or grammar mistake could be the difference between getting shortlisted and receiving a rejection email. Higher literacy will also allow you to expand your job role and take on more responsibility at work. This will pave the way to promotion and higher wages!

You will be able to pass on your skills to others!

Imagine how wonderful it would feel to be able to help others by passing on your literacy skills. If you have children, you will be able to support them with homework throughout their time at school.

Being able to read, write and communication effectively can enhance your career prospects for life. Our English Functional Skills courses have no formal academic entry requirements, and are open to anyone based in the UK. More information on how to apply can be found on our website.

International Day of Charity is the natural day to think about how we can support people who are less fortunate. Donating to charity is the most immediate way to help improve life for others, but not everyone has the money to spend.

The good news is that money isn’t the only way you can make a difference. More often than not your actions will speak louder than your words pay check when it comes to charitable efforts in your local community. There are plenty of ways you can help others without it digging into your pay packet. Check out what you can do, and start making a habit out of doing good deeds…

Give blood

Most people aged 17-65 are able to give blood. It is easy to register as a blood donor online and, once you have found your local donor centre and set up an appointment, donating blood takes as little as 10 minutes of your time. Become a blood donor

Register as an organ donor

Put simply: you won’t have much use for your organs once you’re dead, but someone else could! Only 29% of us are registered as an organ donor, but your death could spell a new beginning for someone in need of a transplant. Join the organ donor register

Be a friend

Did you know that loneliness can be as harmful for our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day? We all need somebody to talk to now and again, especially when times get tough – but not everyone has someone they can turn to in times of need.

Charities such as Childline and Samaritans, who provide vital support to vulnerable children and adults, rely on volunteers to man their phones. Why not pick up the phone and help someone with as little as a one-to-one conversation?

If you’re looking to make a difference face-to-face, why not join Age UKs befriending scheme? This is where, as a volunteer, you would visit an older person once a week in their own home. Befriending can provide someone with valuable support, and a link to the outside world that often acts as a gateway to other services. Become a befriender

Donate what you don’t need

If you have old clothes, books or toys hanging around that you no longer need, your local charity shop will gladly accept them. Even if you’re not sure what use certain items could be, it is well worth donating them, as you never know – it could be a life saver for somebody else. So go on – clean out those closets!

Raise awareness

If you have a particular cause or charity you’re passionate about, shout about it! From social media and blogging; becoming a charity advocate and making people aware of the great work they do will help to keep the money coming their way.